By now the auction was downright stifling. Every new bid could be the last. Every second was the buyers grappling with whether they could justify the price. The North was rich and prosperous, while the West needed the combined wealth of Satan and the Pontiff to compete. The Western government could provide the ships, but theyâd need the citadelsâ capital. However, their relationship with the Western government wasnât nearly so close as in the North.
âOne Capital ship, one dreadnaught and two expedition ships!â Metatron grit his teeth and lifted his paddle.
âTake it then!â The Terminator hissed. He didnât press further.
Metatron, a ninth level Adept at his peak, nearly collapsed. He let out a long breath. Was it over? Heâd won.
âOne Capital ship and two dreadnaughts.â Just as the buyers were thinking the Terminatorâs refusal meant the end of the auction, another took his place. Poseidon.
Metatronâs hands were shaking. Where this anywhere else he might not have been able to hold himself back. But Poseidon was already a Paragon, and at his back was humanityâs wealthiest organization. He didnât dare offend.
âHis Majesty Poseidon still feels he hasnât purchased enough?â Metatron snidely spat.
Hua Li replied in an even voice. âWhether itâs enough or not is my business. This crystal as just as important to me as it is to you. If our friend Metatron has the resources, he can feel free to raise the bid.â Hua Li had never liked the Pontiffâs Citadel. Especially after what they did to Lan Jue, which prompted him to cut off relations.
Metatron sighed, fury writ clear on his face. Of course he wanted to keep going, but the Western delegate had already turned and shook his head. This was already far beyond what they agreed was the limit. Pressing any further would overwhelm his Allianceâs government. After all, there were limits to what this crystal could provide them. In times of war these ships were priceless resources.
But this crystal was just as important! What could they do?
The Wine Master interrupted. âOne Capital ship and two dreadnaughts. Going once.â
Metatron grit his teeth, mad with determination. âAdd an expedition cruiser!â His breathing was ragged, his face twisted. He absolutely could not pass up this chance. It might be his only opportunity to become a Paragon. Lucifer, perhaps for the first time, admired the man. He wanted it just as bad!
With luck this crystal could mold several Paragons from the ranks of the Western citadels while extending the lives of their leaders. They needed it.
Veins protruded from the Western representativeâs forehead, which was slick with sweat.
âAll yours!â Finally, Hua Li spoke the words.
Metatron leaned against the back of his chair. His mind was blank. Lucifer was the same. The two of them were practically hand in hand â the first and likely last time such a phenomenon was to occur.
It was over! In the end the grandest prize had gone to the West. Paying what was owed, however, would be a long process. Once the ships were delivered they would receive the items purchased.
Lan Jue and his brother quietly slipped away. Lan Qingâs calm exterior had been replaced with a grin he couldnât seem to shake. Skyfire Avenue had made out like bandits, and half of that was going to An Lun. Adding the fleet he already commanded, An Lun was now a frighten force to reckon with.
He looked at Lan Jue and smirked. It had been a fine idea! Of course, the North and West might have felt differently.
âI have something I need to take care of, Iâll catch up with you later,â Lan Jue said as they left the museum.
âMh.â Lan Qing nodded, he had things to tend to as well. Namely, the Astral Phantom. There were still problems that needed to be solved. Her soul was marked, but there was still much to do.
Lan Jue left for Zeusâ Jewelry shop, its surface counterpart. Keâer greeted him with a bubbly smile. âBoss! Youâre back!â
âAre things prepared underground?â He asked immediately.
âAll set,â she replied. âMika, Xiuxiu and Guo-er 1 are there. Theyâve been very busy.â
Lan Jue smiled. âPrepared two glasses of cold water. Weâll have guests soon.â
âOk,â she answered, then bounded off to fetch them.
Just then, a pillar of blue light arose from the ground like a mountain spring. It coalesced into a familiar form.
âHis Majesty Poseidon certainly had a dominant bearing today!â When he saw him, Lan Jue couldnât help but laugh. Hu Li materialized from the spectral light.
Hua Li replied with a smile. âAll arranged by you, of course. Why didnât you let me take that last crystal? Itâs useful to my people as well. It could be used to supplement my fatherâs power, maybe even return him to Paragon. Bringing that back home would have been significant, especially in helping my familyâs next generation of Paragon. Itâd make it easier and more stable.â
He wouldnât have offered such tremendous sums without reason. He meant it; that crystal would have been wonderful for the Poseidon family.
Lan Jue shook his head. âI didnât want you to throw money away. Gobi Entertainment has money but that doesnât mean you should waste it! Iâll give you one.â As he spoke there was a flash around his hand. A crystal about the size of his fist appeared. In terms of size it was similar to the one heâd given up, but the energies inside were even more potent.
Hua Li looked at him, shocked. You have more. This is too much, I canât accept.â
Lan Jue tossed it at him. âWhat does any of that mean to friends? Stop the bullshit and take it. It belongs to you. Without you we wouldnât have walked away nearly so rich. It wonât be long before the Pontiff and Satan head out to try and get their own, considering their poor showing today. This was likely the last auction weâre going to hold as well.â
Hua Li looked doubtful. âIs killing those aliens that easy? Aliens with cores like this wonât be weak.â
His friend nodded. âThis did come from a strong alien. Energy to match a Paragon, but not on a protogenic level. One on one, weâd be able to take it alone though itâd be a tough fight. Our last trip to the Starfields we came away with our coffers full. When the aliens attack things will be different, but not impossible. We just need to make sure we have the upper hand.â
Hua Li didnât voice any more opposition, taking the crystal. âIâm happy to have completed my task. Iâll bring this back home and give it to my father. We have our own preparations to attend to before the fight. When the time comes weâll likely be here.â
âExcellent,â Lan Jue replied. âSkyfire Avenue is the safest place in the East. The West is unreliable. But it depends on where the planets show up first.â
Hua Li laughed, making his face even more attractive and elegant. Even Lan Jue stopped to appreciate it. âNo matter where they show up, though, Iâll be by your side.â
Lan Jue chortled. âStop talking like a hopeless romantic, yeah? Alright, you have things to do. I need to take every opportunity to cultivate as well. Youâve broken through and Iâm way behind. With A-Cheng sequestered for so long heâs probably broken through as well. Iâm the last one.â
âYouâve split yourself up too much,â Hua Li said. âQuiet your heart and focus on cultivation. Donât let the outside world intrude too much.â
âYeah,â Lan Jue replied with a nod.
Hua Li bid him farewell and left. After a moment, Lan Jue left too to find the Driver. Their Disciplines hadnât been fully transformed yet. He was close, and the thunder essence had pushed him to a new level. His intentional suppression was what kept his Discipline from advancing faster. He was in no rush, breaking through would happen sooner or later. In fact the later he could push it, the better the end result.
ζ
Lan Qingâs living arrangements on the Avenue had been set up in the Gothic Winery. Typically it would be the jewelry shop, but Lan Jue was too busy.
Several rooms were in the back of the winery where people could rest. Streams of light filtered through the stained glass, giving the room a fairyland-type feel. On a stool by the window was the Astral Phantom in a plain yellow dress, peering out onto the street. She seemed entirely tranquil. Lan Qing admired her attractive face in portrait, and the delicate lines of her slender neck.